Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit tries to steal the ball from Central Pulse shooter Amelia Walmsley the last time the two met. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit started the season frustrated. It is easy to see why, considering the Southern Steel lost its opening four games by 15 goals, or more, and is yet to pick up its first win of the season. But as captain — and while she is the first to admit it has been tough — she knew being annoyed at her team’s mistakes and lack of success was not benefiting anyone. "It kind of has to change because if you keep getting frustrated, or angry, after every game you will go a bit crazy," Selby-Rickit said. "For me, or for a lot of us, it’s trying to find wins in losses and sometimes big losses. "So defensively what can we do to be better, how do we get more ball, what can we tweak, what can be better from the game before, little things like that, that kind of get you through and that really helped, I must say. "It’s been a few losses in a row now, so it probably took me about five games, six games, but now I can still find, even though we could be losing, I can still find good things that happen in a game, definitely." Selby-Rickit, who played her 200th national league game earlier this season, is one of the most experienced players around and the team’s other leaders were also defenders. That meant they had to stand up and help the young attackers work the ball around to find their openings in the circle. "It’s finding work ons and knowing that we are the experience there and they’re not. "You don’t get experience until you experience things." She was proud to see her players adjusting to previous mistakes and doing their best to rectify things — but there were still big lapses. "I think for us it’s not fitness, but it’s mental fitness, that constant having a body on you, constantly having to think, it is tough. "But what is awesome is that all these girls are getting a lot of court time and a lot of experience and learning and they’ll only be better for it — that’s what I have to tell myself and it is very much character building." It has been a new challenge for the goal defence this year, splitting her role with returning Courtney Elliott and having Sam Winders out the front. "It’s been really good, I love actually working with new people. "The thing is, I know my strengths, but I know my weaknesses really well, and so what I try and do is find other people’s strengths and how I can kind of set things up for them, because I know that their strengths are probably a bit better than my strengths, especially the jumping part of it," she said, laughing. Known for her game smarts, Selby-Rickit has often found herself on the bench near the end of a quarter, and while some might view it as a bad thing, it has helped her game. "I like to watch netball, that’s how I read the game, and sometimes while you’re playing you can’t [make a] read. "It kind of gives me an opportunity to sit and look and watch because it’s completely different from the sideline." The Steel lost 50-31 to the Mainland Tactix last week, but won the first quarter, and everyone, including the attackers, did a "hell of a job" on defence. "I love that idea of it’s OK to lose the ball, sort of, but it’s more what you do next and the effort you make to get it back and what I was happy about was when people made mistakes ... the effort they made it really get it back and kind of lead the charge to get the ball back was probably one of the things I was really happy with." The Steel will need that defensive mongrel tonight when it is home to the Central Pulse. The Pulse have been strong the last couple of rounds after suffering three close losses early in the season and shutting down Whitney Souness will be key. kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz
